Thai police have uncovered a staged kidnapping case involving a 19-year-old Chinese woman and her boyfriend, who allegedly fabricated her abduction while travelling in Thailand in order to extort ransom money from her father.
Authorities said the case surfaced after the victim’s father, surnamed Dong, received threatening messages and a video on March 31 showing his daughter being allegedly kidnapped and abused during her trip. The “kidnappers” demanded a ransom payment, warning that she would be harmed if the money was not transferred. Fearing for her safety, he eventually paid around 110,000 yuan (approximately RM71,000) before reporting the case to police when she was not released.
Investigations by Thai police tracked the woman, identified as Dong, through her social media activity. She was found to have travelled with several Chinese nationals, staying at a hotel in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang District between March 28 and April 2, before the group later moved to a rented property in Bang Phli District.
Police further discovered that four of the men involved could not produce valid identification documents or passports. One of them was identified as the woman’s 29-year-old boyfriend, surnamed Yu, who is also wanted by police in Nanjing, China, over alleged online fraud offences.
Initial interrogations revealed that the entire kidnapping scenario was allegedly staged by Dong, Yu, and two other men. Authorities said the group had planned the fake abduction to deceive her father into paying ransom money through emotional manipulation.
Thai police confirmed that Dong, Yu, and two accomplices were arrested for illegal entry into Thailand, and are currently being processed for deportation in coordination with Chinese authorities. Two other Chinese nationals linked to the case were found to have entered the country legally and have not been detained.
The case has drawn attention in both Thailand and China due to its elaborate setup and the involvement of a wanted fraud suspect, highlighting ongoing concerns over cross-border scam operations and staged kidnapping schemes.
